A Slave to Magic (14 page)

T
he following
day was bitterly cold, but otherwise uneventful. The two trudged on, attempting
to keep their spirits high despite the freezing weather. Kwil worked on a spell
to keep his body warm, but he failed in his attempt to share it with Nera. Attempts
to teach her the spell ended in failure as well. Either she didn’t have the skill,
or she didn’t have the drive. Kwil gave her an extra portion of his own food to
help her keep warm as they walked.

By the middle of the third day, the forest began
to change. No longer were the trees a familiar silver. Instead, they were deep
brown, some of them black in color. Dark red and purple leaves littered the forest
floor, and unseen creatures scurried beneath them. Long, thorn-covered vines
descended from the treetops. Despite the lack of a leaf canopy, the light of
the sun barely reached through the forest. The trees were densely packed, their
dark coloration absorbing the majority of the light.

“I don’t like the look of this place,” Kwil said,
taking in his surroundings.

“Is it different from the stories you read?” Nera
asked.

“No, it’s just how I pictured it,” he replied. The
entire area was dark and foreboding. With every step, he expected something to
jump out and grab him, exactly as it had the characters in the stories he had
read. If any of those stories were true, all manner of strange creatures lived
within the borders of this forest.

“If it’s what you expected, why are you so
nervous?” Nera asked, making note of his rapid breathing.

“It’s one thing to see it in your mind,” he said,
“and another to actually walk in it.” A shrill cry rang out, the young man
crouching in response. “That sounded close,” he said, swallowing hard.

“That was miles from here,” Nera said, her ears
turning to face the sound. “Come on.” She stepped forward, gesturing for him to
follow. “I’ll keep you safe,” she promised, grinning.

“What manner of creature makes that sound?” he
wondered aloud.

“Let’s hope we don’t find out,” Nera responded.

Pressing deeper into the Dark Forest, Kwil sensed
a change in the air. Not only was it denser, there was a strong presence of
magic, and it was not friendly. “Something is nearby,” he said, his voice
cracking slightly.

“What?” Nera asked. “A person? A creature? A
trap?” She swiveled her head in all directions, taking in her surroundings.
Yes, the area looked ominous, but she felt nothing out of the ordinary.

Kwil shook his head. “I’m not sure. I think we
should be on our guard.” The uneasy feeling would not leave him. It might have
been the stories he read about the forest, but it felt more real than any tale
from a book. There was something in these woods that didn’t want him there, and
he could feel its eyes staring at him.

“Look!” Nera shouted, startling Kwil. She pointed
to a long, thin strip of a glistening substance covering the ground. “What is
that?”

Kwil knelt next to the silvery strip and said, “It
looks like something left a trail.” Leaning down, he could smell its putrid
odor. Clamping his hand over his nose and mouth, he nearly gagged. Moving back
to Nera, he said, “Whatever made that trail has to be the nastiest thing I’ve
ever smelled.”

“Let’s hope we don’t run into it then,” she
replied, urging him forward. “Do you sense anything of Mistress Seela?”

Unfortunately, he did not. He could not discern
the source of the magic he felt, only its presence or absence. As far as he
knew, only ancient objects put off such sensations. The feeling in this forest
was much different than he’d had near the stones, and he couldn’t tell whether
it was really a creature watching him or his own mind inventing trouble.

Not paying attention to his feet, Kwil caught his
boot against a leaf-covered root and fell hard on his knees. His hand landed in
another trail of shiny slime and stuck to the ground. “It’s sticky!” he yelled,
disgusted. Nera gaped open-mouthed as Kwil tried to free his hand. Reaching
down to add her strength to his, Nera helped him pull free.

“Thanks,” he said, looking down at his hand. The putrid
slime coated his palm, bringing dirt and debris with it.

“I hope you know a spell to wash that off,” Nera
stated. “Otherwise you’ll be sticking to everything you touch.”

Kwil searched his mind for a spell that might
work. He hadn’t bothered to learn a spell that could replace a bath, so he
tried several before one finally had some effect on the slime. The remaining
residue he wiped against the trunk of a tree. It was then he caught sight of
the creature leaving the trails. “It’s a slug,” he announced, pointing to a
large black mass stuck to the side of a tree.

Nera moved forward to inspect it. It had no
visible eyes or parts, only a globular body that moved slowly along its way,
putting off a foul odor as it went. “That’s disgusting,” she said, stepping
backward. A shriek sounded from behind her as she collided with something
unseen. Spinning around, she came face to face with a snarling monster. It
stood only half her height with pale gray skin and a long pointed nose. It
bared its sharp, yellowed fangs at her, hissing a warning.

Nera suppressed the urge to scream, not wanting to
give the creature the satisfaction. Instead, she backed away, taking a few slow
steps in Kwil’s direction. The monster slashed a clawed hand at her, growling
low in its throat.

“What is that thing?” she whispered.

“It looks like an imp,” Kwil replied.

“Can you fight it off?” she asked.

Kwil stared into its coal-black eyes, hoping it
would not attack if they remained still. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I think
they can cast a spell or two, but I don’t know much more about them.” He hadn’t
spent much time learning about creatures of magic. Instead, he had focused his
attention on memorizing spells and casting them properly. He could only hope
that one of the spells he was good at would suffice to defend them if the
monster attacked.

Nera flinched as the imp unfurled its leathery
wings. “It’s about to strike,” she whispered to Kwil. “Do something.”

Stepping in front of his friend, Kwil did his best
to look intimidating. He straightened his back and poised his hands to defend
himself with magic. His heart racing, he found it impossible to focus on a
single spell. Which one would be enough to stop it? Was an imp resistant to
anything? There was no time to dwell on his lack of education. The monster
shifted its weight, the muscles in its thighs tightening.

As the creature leapt, Kwil blasted a stream of
silver sparks, knocking it to the ground. Its body fell limp, rolling over
twice. Nera and Kwil took the opportunity to run, dodging limbs and pushing
vines aside as they tried to put distance between themselves and the creature.
They hadn’t run far before they heard its shrill cry behind them.

“I hope you have something stronger for the next
shot!” Nera called to her companion. “That thing’s mad now.”

Kwil looked back to see how much time he had to
think of another spell. The imp was gaining ground, its wings helping it glide
easily between the trees. Jumping to the side, Kwil narrowly avoided a stump
that was partially hidden beneath the leaves. His heart pounding in his ears,
he knew he had to think of something. He couldn’t keep this pace much longer.

Nera’s agile legs carried her with ease over the
obstacles in her path. Kwil was trailing behind, so she slowed her pace, hoping
to keep stride with him. Grabbing his arm, she tried to drag him faster than
his legs were able to go. “Don’t you have a spell that can make you run
faster?” she asked.

Kwil shook his head. Such a spell would be quite
useful right now, but he had yet to study any spells that could change his
physicality. The imp was drawing closer, swooping toward the pair as they
continued to run. Scanning his memory for a spell that might protect them,
Kwil’s mind went blank. He did not know how to create a shield, nor did he know
any way to make either of them less susceptible to the monster’s claws. His
mind distracted by his shortcomings, he found it difficult to concentrate on
any one spell.

The imp swooped low, its screeching voice
announcing its impending attack. Nera ducked, narrowly avoiding its razor-sharp
claws. It hissed and spat as it darted to the side, readying itself for another
try.

“It’s coming again!” Nera called out. “Try any
spell!” She didn’t care what he threw at the imp, as long as he was trying.
Maybe he could at least slow it down.

As it drew near, Kwil could almost feel its hot
breath on his neck. The thought of heat gave Kwil an idea. His most successful
spells involved heat, and he had completely neglected them. Chiding himself for
not going with his strengths on the first try, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Nera paused as well, waiting to see what her
friend would do. She would not continue running without him.

Reaching deep into his magical stores, Kwil
focused his mind to heat. A fire burned inside him, his midsection growing
uncomfortably hot. Despite the burning from within, he kept his thoughts
focused and his hands steady. Squeezing his eyes shut, he projected fire at the
imp. The creature tucked its wings, rolling to the side and narrowly avoiding
the brunt of the flames. Only a small portion of its face had been singed.

Opening his eyes to see his failure, Kwil
immediately tried again. Shouting the incantation, he forced the heat to
expand, conjuring a flame in the palm of his hand. But the creature was too
fast. Before Kwil could unleash his spell, the imp leapt for him, sinking its
teeth into the young man’s shoulder.

“Kwil!” Nera shouted, running to his aid. With a
low growl, she pounced on the imp, slashing at it with her claws. It shrieked in
pain, kicking wildly with its muscular legs. One struck Nera’s ribs, sending
her rolling to the side. She was more irritated than injured as she dug her
heels into the ground and righted herself.

Scrambling to his feet, Kwil blasted energy at the
imp, forcing it to its knees. Targeting the trees, Kwil loosened vines and
limbs, dropping them on top of the beast. The creature keeled over with an
audible crack, and Kwil was certain the imp was gravely wounded.

Nera had seen enough. “Let’s go!” she shouted. The
creature was down, and it was time they made their escape.

Without argument, Kwil ran alongside Nera. Only
steps away, they heard the imp’s shriek once again. It was pursuing on foot,
its wings too badly damaged to fly. Both hung at odd angles, a broken tip of
bone sticking out of the left one.

“Why doesn’t it stay down?” Nera asked,
frustrated.

“I didn’t think it would get up that quickly,”
Kwil replied. “What now?”

“Keep running!” she shouted.

The two ran on, but the imp was still faster than
Kwil despite its injuries. Nera kept pace, wishing her companion were more
athletic. The footsteps behind her were closing in, and its sights were set on
Kwil. Unable to speed his steps, Nera shoved Kwil with all her strength,
forcing him to the ground. The imp missed his target, its clawed hand slashing
at the air where Kwil had been. Its other hand came down awkwardly, catching
the strap attached to Nera’s lute case and knocking it to the ground.

Reeling in anger, Nera dropped low, running on
four limbs as her ancestors had. Leaping at the imp, she knocked it off
balance, the two of them tumbling over a bed of dried leaves. Not giving the
monster a chance to fight back, Nera sank her fangs into its neck. Holding the
bite longer than necessary, she waited for the life to drain from the creature.
Once she was satisfied it wouldn’t rise again, she released it and stood
upright, wiping the blood from her mouth.

Kwil stared at his friend in disbelief. Her
actions reminded him of the wildcats that he’d read about in tales of other
lands. “I can’t believe you killed it,” he said, looking at the lifeless imp.
“You were amazing.”

“Sometimes we have to revert to the predator
methods of our forefathers,” she said, still breathing heavily. “What did your
forefathers do?”

“Not that,” he replied. “They probably just threw
things.” Still staring at the imp, he asked, “Why didn’t you do that in the
first place? It worked better than my attempts.”

Shrugging, she replied, “I guess I wasn’t mad
enough.” After a pause, she added, “And you injured him. I don’t think I could
have done that if he had full strength.”

“I’m not so sure,” he replied. “At any rate, I’m glad
to be on your good side.”

Nera grabbed her lute case from the ground and slung
it over her back. Before she could suggest they keep going, a raucous noise
erupted from the trees. Looking up, she counted a score of imps, all waiting
high in the boughs, their fangs bared. The travelers were surrounded.

S
pinning around,
Nera looked up at the trees. The imps stared back at her, their black eyes
glistening in the pale light. Screeching and pounding on their chests, the
monsters descended the limbs, closing in on the travelers.

Kwil dipped his head, his hands outstretched at
waist level, his palms facing the ground. Repeating the same incantation three
times, his voice growing louder each time, he summoned the magic inside him.
Desperately grabbing at the energy all around him, he channeled it through his
hands and projected it at the ground. A shockwave of energy erupted from the
sorcerer, narrowly missing Nera as it extended outward. The imps reached the
ground in time to be thrown aside, their limp bodies flying in all directions.

No words were necessary as the pair took to their
feet, running for their lives. The previous imp recovered far too quickly, and
these likely would as well. Kwil and Nera’s only chance to escape them was to
get a head start and find a place to hide.

Dodging trees and slipping on dried leaves, the
two moved as fast as they could. Kwil stayed two steps behind Nera, though he
suspected she was deliberately moving slower to match his stride. Focusing his
mind to heat, he attempted to push the warmth to his leg muscles. The spell did
not have the desired effect. Instead of augmenting his strength, it felt like
his legs were being twisted and ripped from his body. Groaning in agony, he
tried to push through the pain.

Steps ahead, Nera pointed into the distance.
“Smoke!” she shouted. “There’s smoke ahead!”

Kwil spotted a single line of silver smoke rising
over the trees. “It must be a campsite!” he called back.

Nera clenched her jaw, hoping the camp would be
full of Gatans or humans, not more imps. As she rounded a bend, she saw a small
cabin, its chimney exhaling the smoke. “It’s a house!” she cried, her heart
pounding in her chest. Instead of an open campsite, a sturdy stone cottage
awaited their arrival. It would provide far better shelter than she had
expected. With any luck, the homeowner would be willing to help.

The crunching of leaves behind them heralded the
approach of the imps. The cabin was still half a mile away, and Kwil was tiring
fast, thanks to his mistake with the heat spell. The bite wound in his shoulder
was also throbbing, adding greatly to his discomfort. Glancing down at his
pierced flesh, he was shocked to see a yellowish ring surrounding it. The
monster’s bite contained venom.

Feeling a sudden dizziness, Kwil stumbled, but
Nera was there to steady him. Placing his arm around her neck, she helped
support his weight as they ran. His feet kept moving, but his head hung loosely
against Nera’s shoulder, the poison leaving a faint yellow trace as it traveled
up his neck.

Only feet from the door, the imps caught up to
their prey. Bowling them over, they shrieked with delight before forming a
tight circle around the hapless pair. Kwil lay motionless on the ground, his
muscles aching and burning. His mind remained unaffected, but he could do
nothing more than watch as the imps closed in.

Scrambling to her feet, Nera bared her fangs at
the imps, daring them to come closer. If she was going to die here, she was
going to die fighting. Hissing and salivating, the monsters lunged at one
another, competing to be the first to sink their teeth into the travelers. Nera
swiped her claws at them, her green eyes fierce with rage.

Kwil struggled under his paralysis, trying
desperately to move. Only his eyes responded to the request, allowing him to
see the fate that awaited him. Incantations came and went from his mind, but
without the ability to move his lips or his hands, he failed to cast a single
spell. Powerless and frozen to the ground, he could only watch as the imps
moved in for the kill.

Nera crouched low, positioning herself for a
fight. All around her the monsters crept closer, their black eyes fixated on
her. She could see a hint of fear on some of their faces. Maybe they’d seen
what she did to their friend. The thought brought a slight smile to her face.
At least she had taken out one. Maybe she could kill a few more before they
managed to overwhelm her.

From the corner of her eye, Nera saw the door to
the cabin swing open. What appeared in the doorway nearly took her breath away.
Out stepped a sleek black panther, her golden eyes gleaming in the fading
light. The imps took notice of the beast as well, shrieking in terror. Flapping
their wings, they fled in all directions, narrowly avoiding a collision with
the galloping panther. She ran forward on silent paws, scattering the monsters.
None remained behind. Their cries grew more distant as they disappeared among
the trees.

The panther swung her head around, observing the
odd pair who had entered her forest. Nera straightened her back and steadied
her breathing, fearing not the creature who had saved her life.

“We don’t want any trouble,” Nera said. “My friend
is hurt.”

The panther approached, narrowing her eyes. With a
light growl, she sniffed at the air. “What happened to him?” she asked in a
smooth alto voice.

“One of the imps bit him,” Nera replied. “They
would have killed us if you hadn’t shown up. Thank you.” She nodded her
appreciation to the panther.

As the panther approached Kwil, Nera stepped in
front of him to block her path.

“I can help him,” the panther said.

Cringing slightly at her approach, Nera hoped the
panther had good intentions. If she’d wanted them dead, she could have left
them to the imps. Nera decided to trust her and stepped out of the way.

Kwil could only stare wide eyed as the large cat
approached and sniffed him. Laying a massive paw on his forehead, she spread
white magic throughout his body. Holding the spell for a few seconds, she
released the paralysis that was plaguing the young mage.

Kwil sat up slowly, wiggling his fingers to make
sure they still worked. A wave of dizziness swept over him but soon passed.
Climbing to his feet was awkward at first, but he managed to steady himself.

“The pain is gone,” he said, grateful to the
panther.

“The poison is still in your system,” she replied.
“We must get you inside.”

After taking two steps, the panther began to
shrink. Her size decreased until she was no more than the size of the housecats
that sometimes appeared in the stories Kwil had read. No one kept such pets on
Gi’gata, so he couldn’t be absolutely certain.

“How did you do that?” Kwil asked, already knowing
the answer. “You’re a sorceress, aren’t you? You’re Mistress Seela.”

“I am,” she admitted. “And you are Kwil, and she’s
Nera.”

Nera stopped in her tracks. “How do you know who
we are?”

Laughing softly, Seela replied, “Don’t worry,
young one. I can sense much about you. How else do you think I knew to come to
your rescue?”

“You can read our thoughts?” Kwil asked.

“Not exactly,” Seela replied. “But I can read the
intention of your heart. I know you have come seeking knowledge.”

Kwil glanced over at Nera, attempting to contain
his excitement. They wouldn’t have to explain the situation or convince this
woman to trust them. Through her magic, she already knew everything.

“You must be sure of yourself,” Nera whispered to
Kwil. “If she senses any self-doubt, she might not want to teach you. Let her
see only your confidence.”

“I’ll try,” he whispered back.

“Damn imps,” Seela said as she stepped inside.
Beckoning for the two to follow, she added, “They know to stay a hundred yards
from my cabin. Disgusting creatures.”

“No offense, Madam, but why don’t you remain in
your larger size?” Nera asked. “It must be safer that way.”

Hopping onto a stool, Seela replied, “I’m more
agile in this form.” Grinning at Kwil, she said, “Plus I’m less imposing.”

“I think I prefer this form as well,” Kwil
remarked. She was certainly less terrifying as a small cat. Her panther form
was terrifying, even when she was on his side.

Seela jumped onto the table at the center of the
room, delicately striding between the vials and flasks that left little spare
room for movement. Searching through the labels, she selected the appropriate
antidote and placed her paw on the stopper. “This is the one,” she said.

Kwil lifted the bottle and looked it over. It was
an ordinary gray liquid with no apparent magical properties. “Do I drink it?”
he asked.

“Not unless you want to vomit,” Seela replied.
“Place it on a cloth and hold it against your wound. You’ll be good as new in
minutes.”

The young man did as she said, placing a few drops
of the gray tincture onto a strip of cloth. Pressing it against the bite wound,
he immediately felt the soothing effects of the medicine. Glancing around the
cabin, he noticed several shelves filled with colorful tinctures. “Why do you
have so many potions?” he wondered aloud. He immediately regretted the
question, hoping he hadn’t offended the woman whose help he required. “I’m
sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to pry.”

Waving a dismissive paw, she replied, “When one
lives alone, one must be prepared for any scenario.” Grinning, she added, “And
I enjoy dabbling in potions and creating my own concoctions. It’s certainly a
fun way to pass a rainy day.”

“Why do you live alone?” Nera asked. “You’re a
Feles. You could be wealthy, famous, and admired all over Gi’gata.” In fact,
Seela had given up what Nera was seeking. Though she didn’t care to be rich,
she wanted to make music that people would flock to hear. Bringing joy to a
crowd through song was all she’d ever desired.

“Had I been born of a different color, I could
have had that life,” Seela replied. “A solid black Feles is an ill omen among
our people. A superstition exists that we are bringers of bad fortune, and that
simply looking upon us can invite evil into a person’s life.”

“Because of your color?” Kwil asked, shocked. He
understood prejudice well, being born of the lowest class possible. But
prejudice against a Gatan was unknown to him. Why would they turn against one
of their own?

“I’ve seen Gatans with black pelts before,” Nera
stated. “They weren’t treated any differently.”

“In this day and age that is true,” Seela replied.
“But a Feles is not an ordinary Gatan.” Looking at Nera with scolding eyes, she
said, “You obviously haven’t studied ancient history. Our ancestors were
violent and cruel, sacrificing those who were black of pelt.”

Nera gasped. “I didn’t know,” she said. She felt
even more ashamed of her own people. How could they do something so cruel to
their own kind?

“Don’t get me wrong,” Seela went on. “Being
sacrificed to the gods was considered an honor. Kits with black fur were offered
up by their own parents, and they were blessed for it. At least they thought
they were. Over time, the practice ended, and the attitude toward black-furred
Gatans turned sour. We were reviled, accused of practicing dark magic, and sent
into exile.”

“How long ago was this?” Kwil asked. “Were your
people still four-legged?”

“Yes,” Seela replied. “That was the time when
everyone was a Feles. Now the prejudice remains against only those who are like
me. One in a million births produces a Feles, and most of those are of an
acceptable color. It is my misfortune, and my greatest honor, to be born this
way.”

“You enjoy solitude?” Kwil asked, wondering if she
preferred the life she had to that of an average Gatan.

“I am not alone,” Seela replied. “I have the creatures
of the forest. They raised me and shared their knowledge of the arcane. I have
only a few close friends, but they are quite dear to me. I wouldn’t give them
up for anything, not even the chance to live among my people.”

Reaching up to remove the cloth from Kwil’s wound,
Seela smiled. “It’s healed,” she announced.

Kwil ran his fingers over the bite and felt
nothing. “It’s completely gone,” he said. Not only spells could work great
feats of magic; potions could do that as well. Never before had he considered
making potions, but now he was eager to learn. “Mistress Seela,” he began,
“would you teach me your craft? Master Rili was forced to send me away, and he
said I should seek you out. I wish with all my heart to serve as your
apprentice.”

A warm smile graced the Feles’ lips. “I’d be
delighted,” she said. “I see great things in you, Kwil.” Glancing at Nera, she
said, “I see great things in you as well. You are both welcome to stay and
learn.”

“I don’t wish to learn magic,” Nera replied. “But
I thank you for the kind offer.”

“Are you leaving?” Kwil asked, hoping she would
stay, but knowing her dreams would take her elsewhere.

“I don’t think I can learn music here,” she said,
avoiding Kwil’s gaze. The sadness in his eyes was difficult for her to look at.
“I’ll have to find a troupe somewhere.”

Seela shook her head. “There is much this forest
can teach you of music,” she said. “You should stay at least a short time to see
what it has to offer.”

Intrigued by the suggestion, Nera agreed. “I
will,” she said. Maybe it would be easier to leave after Kwil was settled in
and his lessons had begun.

“So,” Seela began, “Rili sent you to me. How is he
anyway?”

“He’s doing well,” Kwil replied. “He said you were
his teacher.”

“Indeed,” she replied. “I taught him many years
ago when he was just a young kit. He was eager and bright but a little full of
himself. I suppose he still is. He hasn’t visited me in years.”

“Was Rili afraid of you?” Nera wondered. After
all, he was a model student and had to have known the superstitions surrounding
the black Feles.

“Not for a moment,” Seela replied. “He wasn’t
allowed to learn magic at the College. He was of low birth, and his parents
could not afford the tuition. There was no one else to teach him. The look of
his teacher mattered not. It was the lessons he wanted, regardless of who was
teaching them.” Chuckling, she added, “It was rather fun having him around back
then.” Her golden eyes grew nostalgic as she remembered the eager young student
she once taught. She saw many similarities in Kwil.